Read a full match report of the FA Cup third-round game between Queens Park
Rangers and West Bromwich Albion at Loftus Road on Saturday Jan 5, 2013.

Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp is bracing himself for the loss of key defender Ryan Nelsen as he works on bolstering his bottom-of-the table squad for the fight to preserve top-flight status.

Nelsen, QPR’s vice-captain, has been linked with coaching posts at Major League Soccer clubs DC United and Toronto FC and his departure would leave a gaping hole in the rearguard.

After watching his side salvage a replay with West Bromwich through Kieron Dyer’s injury-time strike, Redknapp said: “Ryan is very important to us, a fantastic leader and a top player. He’s been offered the chance of a job in America and there’s every chance he might go.

“He wants to be a manager and he has a chance to manage a club. That’s where he’s coming from. He’s one of the best pros I have ever met in my life. A massive part of your team. To lose him would be a massive blow for us.”

Nelsen’s likely departure makes Redknapp’s quest for reinforcements in the January window even more crucial. “I couldn’t sit here and say we are close to doing anything at all but I need to strengthen the squad. It’s quite obvious that we have to strengthen but it has to be the right people,” he said.

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Twice felled by West Brom in the Premier League this season, QPR gained a small measure of revenge when Dyer’s first goal since 2007 earned them a replay. The FA Cup is certainly not top of QPR’s priorities but Redknapp could draw some optimism from a hard-working display in an admittedly low-key encounter.

Wednesday’s victory at Chelsea clearly had a galvanising effect on Redknapp’s men, who enjoyed ample possession against their dangerous-looking seventh-placed opponents.

Redknapp said: “I just didn’t want us to get beat. The most important thing is to stop getting beat.”